Riding with Ryan: Rep. Cory Gardner today will vote in favor of a Republican budget plan that supporters say will shave $6 trillion off deficits in coming decades by overhauling Medicare and making other sweeping changes. The Coloradoan[1]

Bulllseye: Democratic officials are intently focused on three states that Obama won last time – Virginia, Colorado and Nevada – that provide different paths to victory as an alternative to the traditional dependence on Ohio and Florida. But they are also trying to replicate the bold map strategy of 2008 by eyeing Texas, Arizona and Georgia – three states he lost last time – as potential targets. Changing demographics in the three states have yielded hundreds of thousands of currently unregistered Hispanic voters who could be receptive to Obama. Politico[2]

Forget you, W-2: Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., are pushing a new measure that would force more employers to file W-2 forms electronically, which the two senators say would save taxpayers more than $11 million a year. The Hill[3]

GE plea: Colorado’s Congressional delegation, state officials and university leaders — who hope to land General Electric’s proposed thin-film solar power panel-manufacturing plant have written a letter to the company that touts the state’s support for renewable energy. DBJ[4]

The K-12 crusader: State Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, has set a target of reducing the proposed cuts to K-12 education by about $90 million when he shepherds the School Finance Act through the House next week. Pueblo Chieftain[5]

“Ninety million (dollars) has always been my target. That was really based on feedback from my rural districts and what they felt they could absorb and still maintain the integrity of all their programs. So that’s the magic number. I’m just trying to figure out how to get there.” – Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs

Battle lines time: Starting today, Capitol lawmakers will have a new headache to deal with — redistricting. The 5th Congressional District, won’t be greatly affected. Neither will most other Colorado districts. But there is one, the 7thCD near Denver, that will almost certainly be a battle. The Gazette[6]

ASSET up in Senate: Today, the Colorado Senate will debate a bill that would allow certain undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, but not receive state subsidies or financial aid. Longmont Times-Call[7]

Merger push, take 2: Proponents of a merger between the state’s wildlife and parks divisions are counting on a new governor and quick action by the Legislature to it push through after a similar proposal was shot down seven years ago. Durango Herald[8]

“If we don’t combine them and we close a third of the parks, that’s a third less parks that hunters and anglers have access to,” — Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling.

Arrest alert for school employees: Starting next month, parents of school children must be notified by district leaders whenever a school employee is arrested or charged with any felony, or misdemeanor charges of sexual assault, child abuse or indecent exposure. The Coloradoan[10]